Additional infoRecorded and mixed at the R+A Studio, Münnerstadt during the first week of January 1996.
Produced by Empyrium.
Engineered and mixed by Andreas Beck.
Executive producer: Prophecy Productions.
Logo by Christophe Szpajdel.
Paintings by R. Reichert.
Design by Omega Graphics.
Bandphoto by Stefan Other.
Cover art and layout by Fursy Teyssier.

Lesson #3 when rating albums: "Don't rate an album when you only have an initial impression of it."

I skim through hundreds of albums in a year so I've developed a sense of what they're worth after one listen Ask your buddy Marcel - he thinks in a similar manner Plus I don't have the time to listen to something I don't think is worth it just to make sure...

Edit: I know this album is in your top 75 and probably want to punch me for rating it a 6

I skim through hundreds of albums in a year so I've developed a sense of what they're worth after one listen Ask your buddy Marcel - he thinks in a similar manner Plus I don't have the time to listen to something I don't think is worth it just to make sure...

If I don't "KNOW" an album I simply don't judge (rate) it. Rating an album when you only have a first impression is totally unfair. An opinion can easily change after multiple listens. In fact, it literally always does in my case, so that's why I rarely rate albums after a first listen and then never check 'em out again. But in the end it's your call. The only thing I say now is that I suggest you to at least give it a try or two more. There's a reason I have handed out a 10 to this album. If you checked my votes you'd know I only have 22 out of 400+ 10's so I'm not one of those people who hands out 10's when "I like the album". Anyway, if you truly dislike it, fine by me... this brilliant music isn't for everyone.

If I don't "KNOW" an album I simply don't judge (rate) it. Rating an album when you only have a first impression is totally unfair. An opinion can easily change after multiple listens. In fact, it literally always does in my case, so that's why I rarely rate albums after a first listen and then never check 'em out again. But in the end it's your call. The only thing I say now is that I suggest you to at least give it a try or two more. There's a reason I have handed out a 10 to that. If you checked my votes you'd know I only have 22 out of 400+ 10's so I'm not one of those people who hands out 10's when "I like the album". Anyway, if you truly dislike it, fine by me... this brilliant music isn't for everyone.

I definitely give more time to albums that require them, namely prog, avantgarde, and experimental metal. This was too simplistic to warrant another listen. Just to make sure I went back and listened to a few tracks since your reply 20 mins ago and my opinion hasn't changed To be fair, I almost always give albums a second chance, but my opinions don't really change when I've been acquainted with a sub-genre. I found that my opinions changed dramatically before I could appreciate and enjoy the extreme portion of metal, but since then, not so much

I definitely give more time to albums that require them, namely prog, avantgarde, and experimental metal. This was too simplistic to warrant another listen. Just to make sure I went back and listened to a few tracks since your reply 20 mins ago and my opinion hasn't changed To be fair, I almost always give albums a second chance, but my opinions don't really change when I've been acquainted with a sub-genre. I found that my opinions changed dramatically before I could appreciate and enjoy the extreme portion of metal, but since then, not so much

I see. But don't make the mistake of judging music by its complexity. I don't think you can measure the quality of music by complexity. Of course it depends on the genre, but in case of Empyrium it just works perfectly. It doesn't need to be complex at all in my opinion.

I see. But don't make the mistake of judging music by its complexity. I don't think you can measure the quality of music by complexity. Of course it depends on the genre, but in case of Empyrium it just works perfectly. It doesn't need to be complex at all in my opinion.

Written by Erik M. on 18.12.2013 at 23:20Lesson #3 when rating albums: "Don't rate an album when you only have an initial impression of it."

I think that's more of a guideline than a lesson. A lot of people are able to properly judge an album based on a single listen. In some cases their opinion may change in time and/or with more listens, but that doesn't mean multiple listens are required for a proper assessment.

I think that's more of a guideline than a lesson. A lot of people are able to properly judge an album based on a single listen. In some cases their opinion may change in time and/or with more listens, but that doesn't mean multiple listens are required for a proper assessment.

I wasn't being 100% serious though, haha. I was just making stuff up, but what I said is still true in my case. I've discussed this with Marcel because he can apparently judge an album after just one spin. I just can't do that, ever.

A great record no doubt but they still weren't completely "there" yet compared to Songs Of Moors And Misty Fields.

Having listened to both a few times again recently, I must say that the style of both albums is hardly the same. Many people, including myself until just now, talk about these albums like their style is identical, but A Wintersunset... is way more symphonic (synth-driven) and more doomy while SOMAMF is more melodic (rather than symphonic) and has much more neofolk and less doom in its sound. So to someone who has listened to both records lots of times, the difference in style in quite big. And it happens to be that I'm in the minority because I enjoy this one much more overall nowadays.

Written by Erik M. on 18.12.2013 at 23:20Lesson #3 when rating albums: "Don't rate an album when you only have an initial impression of it."

I think that's more of a guideline than a lesson. A lot of people are able to properly judge an album based on a single listen. In some cases their opinion may change in time and/or with more listens, but that doesn't mean multiple listens are required for a proper assessment.

This is true on me with stuff like power / black / melodic death metal, I can judge if I like those albums after one spin, doom subgenres though like Funeral and Death doom I need at least 3-4 full listens to make an opinion on them.